A Chinese survey vessel on Saturday extended its activities to an area closer to Vietnam’s coastline, ship tracking data showed, after the United States and Australia expressed concern about China’s actions in the disputed waterways. The Haiyang Dizhi 8 vessel first entered Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) early last month where it began a weeks-long seismic survey, triggering a tense standoff between military and coastguard vessels from Vietnam and China. The Chinese vessel continued to survey Vietnam’s EEZ on Saturday under escort from at least four ships and was around 102 kilometres (63 miles) southeast of Vietnam’s Phu Quy island and 185 kilometres (115 miles) from the beaches of the southern city of Phan Thiet, according to data from Marine Traffic, a website that tracks vessel movements.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday edged toward backing a deal in Congress on government funding that would not meet his demand for $ 5.7 billion for a wall on the Mexican border but would avert a partial government shutdown. Trump, widely blamed for a five-week shutdown that ended in January, said he did not want to see federal agencies close again because of fighting over funds for the wall, one of his signature campaign promises in the 2016 election. Trump said he would hold off on a decision until he sees actual legislation about the issue.

Paris was on alert Saturday as the swollen Seine crept higher, with forecasters expecting the flooding to peak before the weekend is out. The river reached 5.7 metres (19 feet) at 9:00 am (0800 GMT) on Saturday, more than four metres above its normal height, causing headaches for commuters as well as people living near its overflowing banks. Tourists suffered too with the capital’s famous Bateaux Mouches rivercraft out of service, and emergency services alone authorised to navigate the Seine.